BOSTON, MA - MAY 14: Carson Smith #39 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after Khris Davis #2 of the Oakland Athletics hit a home run during the eighth inning at Fenway Park on May 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Sport

Temper tantrum leads to ‘freak accident’

16th May 2018 3:54 PM

BOSTON Red Sox pitcher Carson Smith dislocated his pitching shoulder during a tantrum and went on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday, an injury Boston said could be major.

The 28-year-old right-hander was hurt when he threw his glove in the dugout after leaving Monday night's 6-5 loss to Oakland.

He entered with the Red Sox trailing 5-4 in the eighth, allowed Khris Davis' lead-off home run, then retired three straight batters. Brian Johnson relieved to start the ninth.

"He's very apologetic," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday.

"When he left the game, he was upset. He threw his glove and when he threw his glove, his shoulder subluxed. And that's how he got hurt."

Left-hander Bobby Poyner was recalled up from Triple-A Pawtucket. Poyner is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in seven games and eight innings with the Red Sox this season.

"It's a freak accident. Let's be honest, he's not the first guy who slams their glove or throws their bat, or punches himself," manager Alex Cora said.

"But it is what it is. We have to move on. That's why we're here. We've got some capable guys down at Triple-A. Is it a perfect situation? Of course not. He was throwing the ball well. He was becoming a guy that we thought he was."

Smith was acquired from Seattle before the 2016 season to be a set-up man for closer Craig Kimbrel but has been limited to 29 games for the Red Sox.

He had Tommy John surgery on May 24, 2016, and returned to appear in eight games last September.

Dombrowski said there is not a timetable for the return of Smith, who had tests that included an MRI. He does not know whether Smith will need surgery.

"I'm sure at some point we'll get a second opinion. But I don't know the severity, but it's not a mild (issue). We're not expecting him back in 10 days, by any means, at this point. We'll see how severe. But it's got the potential to be a major injury."

Davis' homer was the only run allowed by Smith in his last six games and 4 2/3 innings. He was 1-1 with a 3.77 ERA in 18 games and 14 1/3 innings this season.

Smith said he tosses his glove regularly with fellow pitcher Joe Kelly.

"I throw my glove every day playing catch with him. It's part of my warm-up routine," Smith said.

"I go through my throwing motion, throw my glove. I actually usually hold on to it; sometimes I accidentally release it. I think it's a freak accident. I think fatigue played a factor with my shoulder and my shoulder just couldn't handle it."

"Think my shoulder's tired in general," he added. "Yeah, it's just from pitching. I've thrown a lot lately, and I think my arm was just tired."